Search site

WHAT YOU CAN DOCAMPAIGNSCORPORATE INVOLVEMENTJOBS

 

1,469,000 people in 1,081 villages across 13 districts in Bihar are currently affected by floods according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The release of surplus water in Nepal breached the embankment of the Kosi River flooding northern Bihar. 225,192 houses have been damaged and 57,411 people evacuated. Areas only 5km from Patna have been flooded.

The impending threat is even worse. The 3km wide breach in the embankment is growing by 200 meters per day. If the breach reaches the Bhimnagar barrage only 12km away it will collapse drowning the densely populated districts of Supaul, Sharsa, Araria, Madhepura, Katihar and Purnea. If the government of Nepal decided to open the gates of its embankments then the Kosi River is likely to spread and devastate further areas. Many districts also lie in the exit path of the water and will become affected by flooding during the next few weeks.

Save the Children wants to take immediate action to provide general supplies and specific, child focused relief. However, we need donations to fund our efforts and help some of the million and a half people who continue to suffer.

Situation On the Ground

Victims are without shelter, food, clean water or medical care. The Government response has been inadequate. 27 Government relief camps shelter only 10,122 people and only 970 boats are available in the flood affected areas. People have taken refuge on embankments, buildings and highways to escape flood waters.

Destruction of houses and livelihoods has lead to increased poverty and deprivation. Schools, medical and judicial centers are not active which leaves the population, particularly children, vulnerable and unprotected. Thousands of hectares of crops have been destroyed causing loss of livelihood and shortages of food.

District	Affected people	Villages	Panachayats	Blocks
Supaul	894,000	243	73	5
Madhepura	150,000	126	64	7
Araria	62,000	48	31	4
Saharsa	100,000	138	40	3
Danapur / Patna	500,000

Situation for Children

Children are very susceptible to diseases and exposure related illnesses, which are prevalent in disaster situations. Floods have caused a shortage of food which, along with inappropriate relief packets, will effect child nutrition and further weaken children.

Save the Children wants to respond to the floods by supplying food and tarpaulins, help with delivering safe water supply and sanitation and organise health camps as well as provide people with cash for work to repair their damaged homes in the first phase of response.

Save the Children will establish ‘safe spaces’ for children as it did in the response to floods in last year because schools are not open and children need somewhere to feel safe and to interact with their peers.

Safe spaces can also provide a focal point in case of separation, act as areas for sensitization on hygiene and health practices to lessen the risk of disease and monitor the health of the child population.

Save the Children's Response

• Food Aid (20 days rations. Per family- 15kg rice, 2kg dal, 1kg salt 1lt edible oil)
• Water Purification (bleaching powder, halogen / zeoline)
• Tarpaulins for shelter (10,000 sheets)
• Health Camps

Save the Children will initially target 10,000 families including 40,000 children.

Save the Children will focus on children to fill the gap left by the Government and other organisations who do not provide child focused aid. Alongside food, health, shelter and water aid Save the Children will establish ‘safe spaces' for children as it did in the response to floods in last year. Schools are not open and children need somewhere to feel safe and to interact with their peers. Safe spaces can also provide a focal point in case of separation, act as areas for sensitization on hygiene and health practices to lessen the risk of disease and monitor the health of the child population.